Multispectral near‐infrared spectroscopy study evaluating the effect of razor design on shaving‐induced erythema

Abstract

BackgroundWhile shaving‐induced erythema is a common inflammatory skin issue, there is a lack of quantitative information on how well a shaving product performs in this regard. In this study, multispectral near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) imaging was used to quantitatively and qualitatively measure the extent of shaving‐induced erythema. The research compares a safety razor and a cartridge razor to evaluate their impact on skin irritation.Materials and methodsFifty‐nine healthy male volunteers without pre‐existing skin conditions were enrolled. Basic demographics were recorded, and participants' faces or necks were imaged before shaving. Shaving was conducted on the right side of the face/neck with the safety razor and on the left side of the face/neck using the 3‐blade cartridge razor. Images were captured immediately after shaving, at 5 and 10 min post‐shaving.ResultsTissue oxygen saturation (StO2) measurements demonstrated that the safety razor induced significantly less erythema than the cartridge razor. Immediately after shaving, 40.3% of skin shaved with the safety razor had erythema compared to 57.6% for the cartridge razor. At 5 min post‐shaving, 36.5% of skin shaved with the safety razor had erythema, compared to 53.8% of cartridge razor.ConclusionsMultispectral NIRS revealed significant differences in shaving‐induced erythema between safety and cartridge razors. Safety razors demonstrated a lower incidence of erythema, suggesting a potential advantage for individuals prone to skin irritation. This study contributes valuable insights into skin irritation and highlights the potential of multispectral NIRS in dermatology research.